Russia says the country could intervene to help Russian-speaking residents in eastern Ukraine if Ukraine launches an all-out assault on separatists there.
Russian-backed separatist rebels have been clashing with Ukrainian troops in the east of the country and Russia has also been building up troops on the border with Ukraine.
A top Russian official, Dmitry Kozak, said that Russian forces could intervene to defend its citizens warning that an escalation could mark the beginning of the end for Ukraine.
The United States and Germany have both expressed concern at the increase in tensions.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki described the situation as deeply concerning saying Russian troop numbers there were the highest since 2014, when the conflict in eastern Ukraine started.
Russia has been increasing the number of troops at the Ukrainian border, but maintains that they should not be seen as a threat. Meanwhile, Ukrainian military asserted at the end of March that some 20,000 Russian troops had been moved towards Ukraine’s border.
Clashes between Ukrainian troops and the Moscow-backed rebels inside Donbass have also increased in recent months.
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